Combination collapsible table and tray convertible without releasing the grip



July 27, 1954 c. WIGELL Filed NOV. 14, 1951 COMBINATION COLLAPSIBLE TABLE AND TRAY CONVERTIBLE WITHOUT RELEASING THE GRIP 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 1 WORNEYS y 7, 1954 c. WIGELL 2,684,883

COMBINATION QOLLAPSIBLE TABLE AND TRAY CONVERTIBLE WITHOUT RELEASING THE GRIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledENOV. 14, 1951 INVENTOR (3; Holy 6 LL ATTORNEYS Patented July 27, 1954 COMBINATION COLLAPSIBLE TABLE AND TRAY CONVERTIBLE WITHOUT RELEAS- IN G THE GRIP Carl Wigell, Malmback, Sweden Application November 14, 1951, Serial No. 256,214

4 Claims.

The present invention concerns an arrangement of a table with collapsible legs of the type where the table top is formed as a tray and the legs can be lowered and raised by means of actuating means located near the two carrying grips or" the tray, and entirely separate from the carrying grips, without having the operation necessitate that the user release these carrying grips, so that the table can be used as a combination of serving tray and serving table. More specifically, the actuating means comprises at each end of the table a flat spring, a bracket with longi tudinal slot and link arm, which guidably connects a pin fastened at the free end of the fiat spring with a pin displaceably placed transversely in the slotted bracket.

The invention is characterized in that the lowering and raising are each brought about by a respective actuating handle, the handle being fastened on by members, for instance, in the form of circular discs which are in turn suitably mounted on a common axle between two cars projecting from the underside of the table top, which discs lie completely on the underside of the top and inside its edge, and in linked connection with the slotted link.

The invention is further characterized in that on the underside of the table top, directly above the discs, there is arranged a slit-shaped recess into which project the upper portions of the discs.

The invention is still further characterized in that that actuating handle which efiects lowering of the legs is directly guidably connected by means of a link with the guide pin in th free end of the flat spring, while the other actuatin handle, which effects the folding or raising of the leg, is guidably directed by means of a link with the center point on the link which connects the guide pin in the free end of the flat spring with the transversely placed pin that is slidable in the slotted bracket.

It is further characterized in that the actuating handle which effects the lowering of the leg is so shaped, and the link which connects it with the guide pin in the free end of the spring, is so long, that when the handle is pressed upward against the table board, it is able to lower the guide pin of the spring so far that the link which connects the guide pin of the spring with the slidable pin comes to be directed against the section between the cross bar and the table top.

It is further characterized in that the actuating handle which effects lifting of the leg is so formed, and the link which guidably connects it with the center point on the link connecting the guide pin in the spring end with the slidable pin, is so long that when the handle is pressed upwards against the table top, since the spring end is lifted, it is able to turn the cross bar and the leg well past the dead center point.

Additional characteristics are evident from the following detailed description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a mode of execution of the arrangement partially in side section with the leg extended,

Figure 2 shows the same partially in side section with the leg folded,

Figure 3 shows the same seen from below, and,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view, not to scale, showing the arrangement of the parts.

In the following, the mode of execution shown is described in detail with reference to the drawings.

On the underside of the table top or tray i hear each end and midway of the sides are attached two brackets with downwardly directed ears 6. In these ears is journalled a transverse axle 9, on which there are rotatably mounted between the ears two circular discs 1, 8, which extend partly into a recess 10 in the under surface of the table. These discs 7, 8 are each provided with an actuating handle ll, l8, respectively, which extend in opposite directions laterally from the edge portions of the discs. One disc I is provided near its periphery at a distance of approximately 175 from its actuating handle H with a laterally projecting pin l 9 about which is pivoted one end of a link ll whose other end is pivoted about a pin 20 secured between the ends of a link I2. One end of the link I2 is pivoted by a pin 2! in the free end of a bracket on the fiat spring l3 while the other end of link l2 carries a pin M, which is displaceable in the slot it of the bracket IE on the cross bar 3 between the table legs 2. The second disc 8 is provided near its periphery at a distance of approximately from its actuating handle it with a laterally projecting pin 25, to which is led a link 24, whose other end leads to the guide pin 2| in the free end of the bracket on the fiat spring is.

The discs 1, 8 are so dimensioned that a normal hand, Which holds the table I with the thumb over the edge 5, where the actuating handles I1, 18 are located in their lowest position, is able to grasp the handle with the outermost sections of the other fingers.

lhe fiat spring I3 is so shaped that when the leg 2 is lowered, as in Fig. 1, a peg 22 thereon engages in a hole 23 in the spring and locks the leg in the lowered or extended position, and so that the pin 2i thereby comes to lie directly outside the cross bar 3 and at an even level with its lower edge.

The link i2 is so long that in this position, the pin it lies against the'outer end of the slot H3 in the bracket 5.

The link i l is of such a length that when the leg assumes this lowered position, .the .pin l9 .lies above and directly inside'the inner edge of the ear as seen from the table edge. The link 2:! is of such length that when the leg 2 is folded up, as in Fig. 2, the pin Hi hits against the opposite (lower) side of the slot I5 andthe upper side of the link i2 lies against'the edge of the bracket 5 with the pin 2! higher than thepin Hi, the pin 25 then lying above and directly inside the inner edge of the ear & as seen fromthe table edge.

Figure 4 of the drawings shows the relationships of the parts in diagrammatic form, the same being separated greatly for clarity, in the manner of an exploded perspective view. The proper scale of the parts, however, is better shown in Figs. 1 to 3, based upon an actual working embodiment.

The essential feature of the invention, and the one which makes the invention particularly desirable in connection with an article useful both as a tray and as a table or stand, is that the operating handles i? and it are always pressed or squeezed upwardly, one in order to fold the legs up flat, the other to extend them into position to support the tray or top as a self-supporting table. It is not necessary for either handle to be manually moved downwardly or away from the tray, and thus operation to convert the device from one condition to the other can readily be carried out without the user having to relax his supporting grip upon the tray. Since a set of legs is provided at each opposite end of the tray (only one set being shown in the drawings), the user can convert the device from one use to the other merely by moving the ends of his fingers (of the hand at each end of the tray) from one operating handle to the other, these handles for each setof legs'being placed close to one another to enable this to be done.

The principle of the invention can obviously be carried out with arrangements diiierent from the details shown in the drawing; for example, the shapes of the operating handles, and so on, can be varied, so long as the essential relationship of the handles, discs (or their equivalents) and the like are maintained.

I claim:

1. A convertible table and tray device comprising a'tray portion, leg'assemblies at opposite ends thereof and hinged thereto for folding flat against the underside of the tray portion, a pair of operating handles disposed beneath said tray portion and connected to each of said leg assemblies, and means connecting the operating handles of each pair to the corresponding leg assembly for operating the leg assembly selectively toward and away from its folded-up condition upon movement of a respective one of said operating handles in a direction toward the under side of said tray portion, said means comprising a first bracket secured to said leg assembly, a, second bracket resiliently mounted for limited motion only with reference to said tray portion, a lever having a lost inotion connection with said first bracket and pivoted in said second bracket, and a pair of links pivoted respectively to the center of said lever and to said second bracket, said operating handles being connected to said links respectively.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, in which said means comprises a first bracket secured to said leg assembly, a second bracket resiliently mounted for limited motion only with reference to said tray portion, a le having a lost motion connection with said first bracket and pivoted in said second bracket, and a pair or links pivoted respectively to the center of said lever and to said second bracket, said operating handles being connected to said links respectively.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1, including a pair oi discs pivoted beneath said tray portion, one of said discs being pivotally connected to each or said links, and in which said operating handles connected to said discs respectively.

Arrangement of table with collapsible legs of the type in which the table board is formed as a tray and the can dropped down and lifted up by m ns of manipulating devices located near the two ying grips of the tray, entirely separate from the carrying grip, without having the 'nianipnlation require the release of these carryinggrips, so that the traycan be used a combin tion or" serving tray and serving table, and in which the manipulating device coniprises at each table and a flat spring, a mounting bracket with a rectangular slot and a link which guidably connects a pin fastened in the free end or the fiat spring with a transversely placed pin displaceablethe slot, characterized in that the dropping down and folding up of the legs is brought about each by its'nianipulating handle, which lies entirely on the underside of the tray and inside its edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,221,788 Bilton Apr. 3, 1917 1,583,999 'Scheibe et al May 11, 1926 2&59529 Jogwick et a1. Jan. 13, 1949 2,533,173 Mitchell Dec. 5, 1950 

